How often do you go to the bathroom? What’s a normal frequency for ‘doing number 2′?
Doing a poop is an important function of the body, but how many times is normal? What signals are there that maybe something is wrong? Dr Sarah Jarvis explains
The need to go to the bathroom to satisfy our physiological needs is a fundamental part of people’s daily lives. Although it can often be a taboo or uncomfortable subject to discuss, it is an essential biological function for maintaining our health and well-being.
The need to have a bowel movement is a signal from the body that there is accumulated waste that needs to be eliminated. This natural process allows the elimination of toxins and products from the body, which helps to maintain the balance and proper functioning of our digestive and renal systems.
It is not good to hold back the need to go to the bathroom.
In addition to the physiological benefits, going to the bathroom is also important for comfort and personal hygiene. Holding back the urge to go to the bathroom for long periods of time can cause discomfort and increase the risk of health problems, such as urinary tract infections or constipation.
Reporting in The Sun, Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and Clinical Director at depatientaccess.com, argues that bowel movements are affected by a “huge range of factors”. According to this expert, “some of them cannot be influenced, even if they are fed an identical diet,” since some people defecate more frequently than others.
Diet and lifestyle
According to Dr. Jarvis, most people have a “fairly regular pooing pattern”. Although diet and lifestyle can affect bowel habits, physical activity can help, for example, peristalsis: coordinated movements of muscle rings around the intestines that move food through the digestive system.
All in all, studies show that 98% of people go between three times a day and three times a week. So being physically fit isn’t just good for physical fitness levels, but it can also help you go to the bathroom on a regular basis.
Constipation, a serious problem
If you have fewer bowel movements than usual, or less than three times a week, you could be suffering from constipation. To combat this, try to eat more fiber, which is found in fruits, vegetables, and grains, or get plenty of exercise to help get things moving, so to say.
Additionally, the availability of clean and accessible toilets is essential to meet the basic needs of people. Moreover, having access to adequate sanitation facilities is an internationally recognized human right and is essential to promoting the dignity and well-being of all.